Buoyant flexible container and underwater anchorage therefor



3,155,280 YATER Nov. 3, 1964 H. G. QUASE BUOYANT FLEXIBLE CONTAINER ANDUNDER\ ANCHORAGE THEREFOR l1 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 29, 1961INVENTOR N MM ATTORNEY Nov. 3, 1964 H. G. QUASE BUOYANT FLEXIBLECONTAINER AND UNDERWATER ANCHORAGE THEREFOR Filed Sept. 29, 1961 11Sheets-Sheet 2 HAROLD G. QUASE BYYW@MW INVENTOR A'ITORNFTV Nov. 3, 1964H. G. QUASE 3,155,230

BUOYANT FLEXIBLE CONTAINER AND UNDERWATER ANCHORAGE THEREFOR Filed Sept.29, 1961 11 Sheets-Sheet 3 Y E Jl L I L QT 11 HAROLD G. QUASE M f) zzmINVEN 1 OR YATER Nov. 3, 1964 H. e. QUASE BUOYANT FLEXIBLE CONTAINER ANDUNDER\ ANCHORAGE THEREFOR ll Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 29, 1961INVENTOR HAROLD a. 00455 BY WW ATTORNEY Nov. 3, 1964 3,155,280

H. G. QUASE BUOYANT FLEXIBLE CONTAINER AND UNDERWATER ANCHORAGE THEREFORFiled Sept. 29, 1961 ll Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR HAROLD G. QUASE BY WmWM.

ATTORNEY Nov. 3, 1964 H. s. QUASE 3,155,280

BUOYANT FLEXIBLE CONTAINER AND UNDERWATER ANCHORAGE THEREFOR Filed Sept.29, 1961 ll Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENIOR HAROLD 6. QUASE ATTORNEY Nov. 3,1964 H. G. QUASE BUOYANT FLEXIBLE CONTAINER AND UNDERWATER ANCHORAGETHEREFOR l1 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Sept. 29, 1961 INVENTOR HAROLD a. ems:

ATTORNEY Nov. 3, 1964 H. G. QUASE BUOYANT FLEXIBLE CONTAINER ANDUNDERWATER Filed Sept. 29, 1961 ANCHORAGE THEREFOR l1 Sheets-Sheet 8HAROLD 6. QUASE BY MVM ATTORNEY Nov. 3, 1964 H. G. QUASE BUOYANTFLEXIBLE CONTAINER AND UNDERWATER ANCHORAGE THEREFOR ll Sheets-Sheet 9Filed Sept. 29, 1961 ATTORNEY I FA HAROLD G QUASE BY M6 MW Nov. 3, 1964H. G. QUASE BUOYANT FLEXIBLE CONTAINER AND UNDERWATER ANCHORAGE THEREFORl1 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Sept. 29. 1961 F":. -LD

INVENTOR meow a QUASE BY M M g V ATTORNEY Nov. 3, 1964 H. s. QUASE3,155,230

BUOYANT FLEXIBLE CONTAINER AND UNDERWATER ANCHORAGE THEREFOR llSheets-Sheet 11 Filed Sept. 29, 1961 INVENTOR HAROLD G. QUASE' W bh fiATTORNEY States ate Unit This invention relates to several improvedfeatures of an underwater storage installation. More particularly, theinvention includes improved anchoring means for such system at thestorage site, improved mounting of collapsible rubber tanks at suchsite, improved means for filling and venting such collapsible tanks andimproved collapsible tank construction including means for handling thecollapsible containers.

In my prior copending application Ser. No. 786,434, filed on January 12,1959, now Patent No. 3,114,384, several new underwater installationassemblies are described including means for anchoring, emplacing andhandling underwater containers; particularly with the aid of a cradle orpallet. This invention is an improvement on these features. 7

An object of the present invention is to provide an underwater storagesystem which provides both safety and security for storage of liquids ofall types, solids transferable by air pressure, and gases.

Another object of the present invention is to use the inherentcharacteristics of water pressure to aid the containers strength and thecool Water temperature to avoid other hazardous conditions. Thecontinuing objects of this invention are to provide improved elasticstorage containers of great mobility and versatility, and improvedhandling and anchoring means therefor.

The containers used herein for underwater storage coinprise anywaterproof flexible material formed into various shapes and sizes whichautomatically contract or expand in accordance with the ratio ofexternal and internal pressures Examples of a waterproof flexiblematerial for use herein are collapsible steel, plastic, rubber,reinforced fabric, and the like.

The storage containers are secured to the bottom of a lake, river, orocean floor by means of a permanent anchor embedded therein. The typeand design of the anchors will vary with water-bottom conditions, sizeof the storage containers, specific gravity of the storedmaterial andenvironmental factors. The basic type anchor contemplated by thisinvention are of the class of anchors grouted in place.

The storage containers may be filled or emptied through attachedsubmerged pipe lines which may be of metal, rubber, or reinforcedplastic tubing. Since the underwater system may comprise a plurality ofstorage units, a manifold system is connected to the main feed line withautomatic valves operated by electronic or sonar equipment locatedeither on land or on a floating dock. Such a manifold system may also bemanually operated, an operation which may most feasibly be practiced inshallow water.

One of the inherent advantages of' the underwater storage containers istheir mobility and versatility. Supplies stored underwater can be movedas a unit from place to place simply by detaching the entire storageunit from its anchor and moving and towing it either by natural buoyancyor with a suitable crane or hoist arrangement. To facilitate themobility and versatility of the storage containers, special grippableflanges, hooks, or arm like members may be attached to the containersuch, that a crane or hoist connectable thereto may lift the entirestorage unit or lower it accordingly.

Although not restrictively limited, the storage containers may be usedto store liquids as for example fresh water, petroleum fluids, andliquid chemicals as aluminum sulphate, and the like. Solids may also bestored in underwater in the system, solids especially transferable byair pressure as for example, grains, sugar, salts and the like.Furthermore, the underwater storage system may be most advantageouslyused to store all types of gas, for example, butane, heating fuels, air,chlorine, and the like.

This invention and its several improvements are further described inrelation to the drawings in which:

FlG. 1 is a general view of the installation described in detail inapplication Serial Number 784,434, filed January 12, 1959, of which thisapplication is an improvement;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a further detail thereof showing theshore-to-installation submerged line pipe;

FIG. 3 is a general perspective view of an underwater storage containerand the anchor arrangement to the water bottom which in part constitutesimproved features of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal vertical view of the underwater storageinstallation of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a further enlarged view of FIG. 3 showing the features ingreater detail;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of FIG. 4 while;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of a modified form of the presentinvention featuring grippable side arms;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a hoist arrangement used to hoist thestorage container by the protruding side arms featured in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the hoist depicted inFIG. 8;

FIG. 10 shows a side View of a corner anchor arrangement secured in thesub-aqua terrafirma;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged detail side elevation view of the spacing membersin the casing pipe;

FIG. 12 is a bottom projection view of the casing pipe depicting thearrangement of the spacing members;

FIG. 13 shows a swivel connection clamp used to secure the storage tanksto the base platform;

FIG. 14 is a top view of a corner anchor base beam having a singleanchor means;

FIG. 15 is a partial longitudinal elevation view of an anchor base beamhaving two anchoring means on either .end of the beam;

FIG. 16 is a top plane view of same;

FIG. 17 shows a top view of the floating log boom;

FIG. 18 further shows a top enlarged detail of the left end of FIG. 17secured to the anchored pipe;

FIG. 19 is a right side detail of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a partial side elevation view of the floating log ventsupport section A-A of FIG. 17;

FIG. 21 is a partial top view thereof;

FIG. 22 is a detailed side elevational view of the valve assemblyconnected to the anchor beam;

FIG. 23 is a partial cross sectional view 23-23 of the valvefeed-exhaust channel system.

FIG. 1 shows generally, in perspective, the prior underwater storagesystem described in detail in the prior Quase application, where theinstallation comprises numerous storage tanks 10 composed of anysuitable waterproof material for underwater storage, desirably spacedand interconnected by a pipeline network 12, which may be centrallycharged or discharged by a pump 14 through the submerged line 16. Thestorage tanks 10 may also be supplied by a variety of transportationmeans as illustrated, such as by rail, tank,-truck, ship or plane.

Smaller interconnectable composite containers 18 may be assembled asbuoyant containers of any desired shape and transported to the siteabove water as floating cargo 20 by a-towboat 22 and later submerged.These composite containers 18 may then be linked to the pipeline network12 until such time when the containers are renewed.

The composite groups of containers 18 may also be assembled on land andtransported to the storage site by helicopter 22 or they may be pushedas Wheeled carts 24 by a yard tractor 26 down a ramp 28 into the water.Further, the storage units may be charged by a pump 14 which receivesthe fuel from an underground pipeline, not shown, or from a tank truck30 at an unloading dockside 32 by way of line 34. The pump 14 may alsobe connected to intermediate storage tanks 36 which may be fed by arailroad tanker 38 or by land storage tank 30. The submerged storagecontainers 10 may be protected from damage due to floating objects,heavy undercurrent, and the like by a protective screen 40.

FIG. 2 shows a general top plan view of an embodiment of the underwaterstorage system described in detail in the prior application previouslyidentified. The shore installation comprises beach 44, an access ramp46, a dock 48, an intermediate storage tank 50, and a dock side pump 52which connects the underwater line pipe 16 with the underwater pipenetwork 12, and to the storage tanks 10.

FIG. 3 is a general perspective view of the underwater storage tanksystem including the anchor facilities Wherein the storage tank 54 issubstituted for the multiple storage tanks 10 of FIG. 1. The storagetank 54 comprises float or buoyancy compartments or bags 72,strategically located to sustain the tank in an upright position. Asafety valve 66 is provided which may operate automatically by a ruptureof pressure diaphragm or the valve may be manually opened and closed bythe valve turn 67. The tank 54 of FIG. 3 may be filled prior to beinganchored and completely sealed by the strongback iron 90. No additionalconnections need be made to the tank. In this case, when new suppliesare required, the tank is simply released by cutting the tie down cables55 to the vertical anchor beam 53. FIG. 3 further shows the use ofstructural shapes such as I-beams to anchor the storage back of tank 54.Initially a hole is drilled in the rock bottom 80 and the beam 53 isgrouted in place. A horizontal beam 51 is attached to the anchor beam 53by the angle brace 57. The horizontal beam 51 further connects othertanks, similar to 54 in a series configuration.

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the underwater storageinstallation illustrating an improved type of tank 54. The tanks forexample, may be formed from an impervious synthetic-coated nylon fabric,the inner coating comprising a compound resistant to the solvent actionof the liquid contained, and the outer surface coated with neoprene. Thestorage tanks 54 are provided with a suitable supply inlet 56 located ator near the base of the storage bag and which is further connected to acombined inlet-outlet assembly 58.

The assembly 58 has a dual tubing arrangement which allows forsimultaneous filling the storage tank 54 and removing the air. The aircontent of the tank being filled may be removed by the vent tubing 60connected to the assembly 58 which is further connected to a floatinglog boom 62 on the water surface. The vent tubing outlet 64 has a gooseneck design which may act as an air trap. The excess gas in the flexibletank may alternatively be released through a safety pressure valve 66.The pressure valve 66 may be automatic or manually operated such as byvalve 67. The storage material feed tube 57 to the inlet-outlet assembly58 is connected to a manifold connected through duct 68 by whichplurality of storage containers may be filled simultaneously. Themanifold system 68 is further connected to a submerged line pipe 16(FIG. 2), and from there to adjacent pump or pumps 52. Metering devices(not shown) to control the rate and quantity of flow to the storageunits may be used. The operation of filling or discharging material canbe controlled from a remote location. The storage tank 54 furthercontains a flexible hose or tubing 70 which may be attached to the topof the tank. The flexible tube 70 allows trapped air to flow from thetop of the storage tank 54 through the venting tube 60 and out the gooseneck 64 into the atmosphere. The waterproof storage tank 54 contains abuoyant bag 72 located at or near the top of the storage tank 54 suchthat the tank will remain upright at all times.

Anchors for the storage tanks 54 are designed to provide adequatesupport varying with bottomv conditions, sizes of the storagecontainers, specific gravity of the stored material and environmentalfactors. As shown in FIG. 3 an embedded structural shape 53 may be usedto anchor the tanks, or alternately a heavy pipe 78 of FIG. 4 may beused. The pipe anchor 78 may be firmly held in a cavity filled withgrout 79. The storage units 54 may now be tied to the base anchor 82 byanchor log 84 secured to the river floor base beam 82 by a swivel clamp86. The storage tank 54 may also be secured to the anchored base beam bythe combination inlet-outlet assembly 58 having a tapered end 59 held bypin 61 to the anchor log 63 further attached to the bed platform 65. Theline pipe 88 holds the floating log boom 62 within bounds, and mayfurther hold the protective screen 40 (FIG. 1) in place. The log boom 62may comprise floating logs, metal tanks, and the like. A plurality offloating log booms may be employed as a base platform for a floatingservice station, pump house, or attendants quarters. The floating logboom 62 is attached to a rigging platform 74 by a swivel hook 76. Thearrangement permits the log boom 62 to float on the water surface.

FIG. 5 shows an enlarged sectional view of FIG. 4 and discloses how thestorage tanks 54 may be fastened at the base by two angle irons 90fastened together by rivets 92 and further attached to a lug plate 83and clamp 95. A standpipe cross assembly 58 provides both inlet andoutlet channels to feed the stored fluid and bleed the exhaust airsimultaneously. The exhaust air vent 60 is attached by the coupling 96to the flexible hose 70, further attached to an air filter 98. Buoyancebags 72 may be used as aids in keeping the storage container 54 uprightin the water.

FIG. 6 shows a side elevational view of the storage container 54 fromthe side nearer the standpipe supplyexhaust assembly 58 (FIG. 5). Ametal band 100 firmly holds the container to the standpipe materialinlet tube 102. The standpipe 102 is connected to the supply-exhaustassembly 58 by the flange seal 104. The assembly 58 is further attachedto the anchored beam 65 by the swivel hinge 57 and the removable pin 61.The beam 65 is welded directly to the anchor pipe 78 and reinforced bystandard pipe 81. The supply-exhaust assembly 58 comprises an exhaustvent tube 60 connected to the assembly 58 by the coupling 106. The feedsupply enters the storage bag 54 via pipe line 108. The pressureconnection couple on feed hose 108 easily permits a union to be madewith the standpipe assembly 58.

FIG. 7 illustrates in partial side elevation view, a modified form ofthe present invention featuring side hooks 112 and 113 firmly attachedto the storage container 54 by a reinforcing strip 114. The side hooks112 and 113 are used to give mobility to the underwater storagecontainers 54, with which they may be readily lowered or lifted in thewater by a crane or hoist.

FIG. 8 illustrates in perspective, a ship hoist used to lift the supplycontaining tank 54 of FIG. 7 by the side hooks 112 and 113. The lifthoist comprises a pan of notched grips 116 out from angle iron arms 117and 118, and reinforced by a transverse member I beam 119. Detach ablebolts 120 hold the hoist to the ship-attached member 122 which isconnected to the ship by a pin 124. A crane boom 126 extends a hoistcable 128 to the cutout grips 116. The crane boom 126 further comprisesa pulley 127 for the hoist cable 128, and a stationary eye hook 130 forthe boom cable 132. The hoist cable 128 divides into sections 129 and131 which are fastened to the clamps 133 and 135 at the angle iron arms117 and 118. The windlasses 136 and 137 are used to lift the arms 117,118 and the boom 126 respectively. A pole 138 is used to support thewindlasses 136 and 137 and their respective pulleys 139 and 140.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an embodiment of hoist depicted in FIG.8 which discloses additional lifting tanks 142 and 143 secured to theangle iron arms 117 and 118 (FIG. 8) by metal straps 141. The liftingtanks 142 may be filled with water initially and allowed to sink to thearea of the storage containers 54. Air is then pumped into the tanksthrough the air hose 144. A T 145 permits the tanks 142 and 143 to fillsimultaneously as the air enters the tanks. Water is forced out of tanks142 and 143 through the valves 148 and 1519 resulting in added liftingforce to the hoist. The coupling plate 147 may readily be secured to theship attached member 122 with removable bolts. Eye hooks 133 and 135 areconnected to the cables 129 and 131 (FIG. 8) and operated as previouslydescribed.

FIG. 10 is a side elevation of a corner anchor emplacement in the riverbottom. The casing pipe 78 centrally holds the drill pipe 154 by thecentering studs 156. The casing pipe 78 is firmly attached to a beamsupport base anchor 82 having hook 158 for attachment to the storagecontainer 54 of FIG. 6. A reinforcement pipe 81 is angularly welded tothe casing pipe 78 and the anchor beam 82 for additional support. Asmaller and more economical line pipe 88 may be inserted in the casingpipe 78 for connection to the log boom floating on the water surface.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged detail view of the spacing members 156 in thecasing pipe 78 while FIG. 12 further shows a bottom projection thereof.The spacing members 156 may preferentially be of the same material asthe casing pipe 78 and fastened thereto by any suitable means as forexample, spot welding.

FIG. 13 shows a swivel connection clamp 168 used to hold the storagetanks 54 of FIG. by a fastening 162. The base beam 82 may be formed suchto hold an eye loop 164 by the pin 166. A reinforcing plate 158 may beadded for additional strength in the beam.

FIG. 14 shows a top view of a corner anchor base beam 168 having ananchoring means 178 for insertion of a holding pin, not shown, throughopening 172. The anchor beam 168, reinforced by transverse plates 174,may be welded to the casing pipe 78 of FIG. 10. The holding studs 176may further hold the line pipe 178 attached to the log boom floating onthe water surface. A reinforcing tube 180 is welded to connect thecasing pipe 78 and the base beam 168. A further bar 182 may also be usedon the adjacent side of the pipe 78 for additional support.

FIG. 15 represents a partial elevation of an anchor base beam having twoanchoring means 183 and 184 for supporting two storage tanks similar tothe tank 54 of FIG. 3, while FIG. 16 is a top plan view thereof.Basically, the center anchor beam is the same as that of FIG. 14 withthe addition of a second anchor means 183. The base beam 185 is securelyattached to the pipe 186 with angular reinforcing bars 187 and 188inserted for additional strength. A plate 1992 supported by ribs 193 and194 may act as a base for the manifold system 68 shown in FIG. 4.Additional plates 198 may be welded to the beam 185 to prevent bucklingor warping. The plates 198 will also increase the support strength ofthe anchor beam 185.

FIG. 17 is a top View of the floating log boom previously described inconnection with FIG. 4. The log boom comprises a floating section,transverse members 191 and 192, and a stationary section 189. The twosections are connected by an eye-hook arrangement 198. The stationaryplatform 189 is firmly secured to the line pipe 88 which joins thecasing pipe in the water bottom. A tension rod 196 may be used as asupport member on either end of the floating members 191 and 192.Centrally located on the floating member may be used as a support memberon either end of the floating members 191 and 192. Centrally located onthe floating member may be a vent support 194 to be described in detailwith FIG. 20.

FIGS. 18 and 19 represent the stationary platform 189 from a top andside view respectively consisting of wooden planks bolted together andattached to a floating drum 2% by the U bolt 291. An eye bolt 198 isconnected by the clamp 199 to provide a lose connection between thestationary platform and the floating boom. The entire platform 189 isfirmly held to the line pipe 88 anchored to the water bottom.

FIGS. 20 and 21 represent partial side and top view of the floating logvent support which may comprise floating tube members 201 and 203connected together by transverse beams 194. The transverse beams arebolted to buoyant tubes 281 and 283 by extension bolts 214. The ventingtubes 206 and 208 attached to the storage container 54 of FIG. 4 locatedon the water bottom, are held to the transverse beams 194 by angleplates 210 and 212 and the U bolts 282 and 204.

FIG. 22 relates to the valve assembly connection to the anchor beamwhich FIG. 23 represents a partial sectional view 23-23 of the valveassembly feed-exhaust channel system. Basically the assembly comprisesan inlet feed channel 224 through which the stored materials may passeither into or out of the storage tank 54. The second channel 222 allowstrapped air to be withdrawn as the storage tank is filled. As shown byFIG. 22, all valve connections 216, 218, and 220 may be pressure fitted.The spacing flanges 223 of FIG. 23 centrally support the internalchannel 222. The valve'assembly is bolted to the storage tank by boltholes 221. A metal lug 225 may be welded to the bottom of the assemblywhere the stirrup bolt 228 is held by a removable stud bolt 226 and thecotter pin 227.

I claim:

1. An underwater storage anchorage comprising a pair of anchoringmembers horizontally spaced from each other at the anchoring site underwater, each anchoring member comprising a vertical support beam and ahori zontal support beam, the vertical support beam being embedded inthe underwater bottom at the storage site and fixed in concrete, eachhorizontal beam connected to its vertical support beam extendingalignedly towards the horizontal beam of the other and each horizontalbeam having means at the extremity thereof remote from the vertical beamfor anchoring and supporting a portion of a buoyant container betweenthem at the underwater site.

2. The anchorage defined in claim 1 wherein the means for anchoring andsupporting a buoyant container com prises a shackle bolt.

3. The anchorage defined in claim 1 wherein the means for anchoring andsupporting the buoyant container comprises a tie-down cable extendingbetween the container and said horizontal beam.

4. A container for underwater storage comprising a flexible bagelongated in a horizontal direction and faired at each end and having anexpanded and rounded upper portion the combined upper and lower bagcontours tapering at its sides to a narrow neck at the lower portionapproximating a pear-shape in cross section, the edges of only the lowerportion being sealed together in a bracketing beam at the bottom.

5. Underwater storage container as defined in claim 4 having buoyancybags along the upper surfaces maintaining the expanded upper containerportion buoyantly vertical.

'6. Underwater container comprising a flexible bag elongated in ahorizontal direction and of continuous flexible walls flaring androunded at the top continuing ingventing means for supply and removal ofair from 'the' upper portion of said container and independent fillingand. discharge means passing to and from said container bottom forsupply and removal of fluid substances -to be stored in said container.

" 8. Underwater storage anchorage comprising a pair of anchoring membershorizontally spaced from each other at the anchoring site under water,each anchoring member including a horizontal supporting beam, each"horizontal support beam extending toward the horizontal supporting beamof a similar neighboring anchoring member, a flexible container flaredand rounded at the top continuing downward into integrally joined andsealed by a horizontally elongated beam closure at the bottom, means formaintaining said container vertically up right and shackling members ateach end of said sealing beam to the rear end of one of the neighboringhorizontal support beams whereby to support said container betweenneighboring pairs of horizontal supporting beams.

9. The system defined in claim 8 wherein each container has means forventing air therein to the atmosphere and means for supplying andWithdrawing fluid materials to be stored in said container.

10. A flexible container for storage of fluid materials under water,said container being horizontally elongated, faired at each end, bulginglaterally at the top with sides tapering to an edge at the bottom as tobe substantially pear shaped in cross section, the bottom edge beingsealed in a sealing beam, shackle means for securing said beam at eachend and to anchoring members under water, said shackle means includingduct means combined to supply both vent gases and fluids for storageindependently to and from said container.

8 11. The container as defined in claim 10 having gas pockets along thetop providing a buoyancy whereby the container is constrained to floatupright with the sealing beam at'the bottom. 4

12; The container defined in claim 10 having bracketing earsprotruding-from its sides cooperative with a lifting fork for removal ofthe container from the water.

13. A container as defined in claim 4 in which said bracketing beamconsists of two elongated structural shapes, each shape having avertical web bearing against each lower edge of said container, andclampingly sealing said edges together as a closure for said container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 49,026Falcon July 25, 1865 1,427,091 Case Aug. 29, 1922 1,592,584 ViegelmannJuly 13, 1926 1,690,654 Trotter Nov. 6, 1928 1,883,787 Head et al Oct.18, 1932 2,383,840 Benckert Aug. 28, 1945 2,618,409 Eisenberger et alNov. 18, 1952 2,718,983 Deskey Sept. 27, 1955 2,765,961 Shea et al. Oct.9, 1956 2,766,907 Wallace Oct. 16, 1956 2,782,011 Fitzgerald Feb. 19,1957 2,808,229 Baver et al. Oct. 1, 1957 2,858,051 Cunningham Oct. 28,1958 2,907,172 Crake Oct. 6, 1959 2,930,423 Cunningham et al Mar. 29,1960 2,939,598 Donleavy June 7, 1960 2,988,892 Borrmann et al. June 20,1961 2,988,893 Borrmann et a1 June 20, 1961 3,003,322 Jordan Oct. 10,1961 3,073,272 Swallert Jan. 15, 1963 3,078,680 Wepsala Feb. 26, 19633,119,407 Timmen'nan et al. Jan. 28, 1964

4. A CONTAINER FOR UNDERWATER STORAGE COMPRISING A FLEXIBLE BAGELONGATED IN A HORIZONTAL DIRECTION AND FAIRED AT EACH END AND HAVING ANEXPANDED AND ROUNDED UPPER PORTION THE COMBINED UPPER AND LOWER BAGCONTOURS TAPERING AT ITS SIDES TO A NARROW NECK AT THE LOWER PORTIONAPPROXIMATING A PEAR-SHAPE IN CROSS SECTION, THE EDGES OF ONLY THE LOWERPORTION BEING SEALED TOGETHER IN A BRACKETING BEAM AT THE BOTTOM.